Multi-purpose suction nozzle



June 26, 1962 G. L. HELLSTROM MULTL-PURPOSE SUCTION NOZZLE Filed Sept. 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 f4 lg INVENTOR.

4% W m BY {4W1 a iw June 26, 1962 G. HELLSTROM 3,040,367

MULTI-PURPOSE SUCTION NOZZLE Filed Sept. 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "wi l 7 MI 5 W hill FIG. .9

INVENTOR.

June 26, 1962 G. L. HELLSTROM MULTI-PURPOSE SUCTION NOZZLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

e. L. HELLSTROM 3,040,367

MULTI-PURPOSE SUCTION NOZZLE June 26, 1962 5 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Sept. 24, 1958 INVENTOR.

%as 2 MM June 26, 1962 e. L. HELLSTROM 3,040,367

MULTI-PURPOSE SUCTION NOZZLE Filed Sept. 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8

I INV NTOR.

firm/sway QwiM United States This invention relates to suction cleaner nozzles and particularly to a novel multi-purpose nozzle capable of being readily adjusted for cleaning different types of surfaces.

Multi-purpose nozzles for suction cleaners, capable of being adjusted to clean such differing surfaces as rugs and hard floor surfaces are well known and have achieved wide commercial success. A particularly advantageous form of such nozzles provides both a first working member, such as a rigid nozzle body having a mouth with smooth edges adapted for engagement with the surface of a rug, and a second working member, such as a brush adapted for better engagement with a hard floor surface, in combination with means for effecting relative adjustment between the two members so that either can be brought into play. While prior art workers'have proposed many constructions of this general type, including various adjusting means by which the desired working member can be selected, these have not proved'entirely satisfactory in commercial use, and there hasbeen a continuing need for improvement.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-purpose suction cleaner nozzle, of thetype comprising at least two different working members, characterized by novel and more effective means for accomplishing relative movement between the working members to bring the same selectively totheir positions of use.

Another object is to devise such a nozzle wherein the desired adju'stmentis accomplished by selectively depressing either of apair of foot .pedals or the like.

A further object is to provide such a nozzle including novel means for accomplishing both relative adjustment of the working members and locking of the same in adjusted position.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects are attained in accordance with the invention can be understood in detail, reference is had to'the accompanying drawings, which "form a part of this specification, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a suction cleaner nozzle constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a partial verticalsectional view of the device of FIG. 1, looking forwardly and taken transversely of the normal line of travel, some parts being shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of FIG, 1, with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4--4, FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 55, FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 6A are fragmentary rear elevational views, with parts broken away for clarity, showing certain elements of the device of FIG. 1 in two different adjusted positions;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating the adjusting mechanism of the device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8 and 8A are two fragmentary front elevational views of the device of FIG, 1, with some parts shown in vertical section, illustrating the adjusting mechanism in its two extreme positions, and

atent ice FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a brush constituting one of the working members of the device of FIG. 1.

Turning now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention here illustrated comprises a hollow main nozzle body A formed by a member 1, normally the top, and a member 2, normally the bottom, secured together in any suitable fashion, as by screws at 3, FIG. 3.

Of generally rectangular plan, member 1 has a raised central portion 4, laterally extending portions 5 and a dependent peripheral lip 6. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, portion 4 of member 1 is provided with a centered inlet opening 7, the edges of which are defined by a depressed portion 8. Ribs 9 extend forwardly and rearwardly from inlet opening 7.

Member 2 includes a flat wall 10, provided with an elongated inlet opening 11, FIG. 1, which extends for most of the long dimension thereof, and also includes an upstanding peripheral flange 12 engaged with lip 6 of member 1, Wall 10, normally at the bottom of the device, is provided with a plurality of elongated openings 13 spaced apart from each other and also spaced inwardly from the outer edge of wall 10. Openings 13 are separated by solid areas 14 of wall 10.

Centered with respect to body A, and disposed at the rear thereof, is a circular opening 15 formed partly in the rear wall of portion 4 of member 1 and partly in the flange 12 of member 2. An outlet conduit member 16 extends through opening 15 and has an angul-arly offset, open outer end 17, adapted for telescopic connection with the usual tubular handle (not shown), and an inner end closed by a slanting partition 18 and a transverse end wall portion 19, as seen in FIG. 5. Adjacent end wall portion 19, member 16 is provided with a lateral inlet opening 20 so disposed as to communicate either with inlet opening 11 of member 2, as described hereinafter, or with inlet opening 7 of member 1, depending upon the rotational position of conduit member 16 with respect to body A. Thus, with conduit member 16 connected to the usual suction cleaner, air can be drawn either through inlet opening 7 or inlet opening 11, as the operator desires.

The intermediate portion of member 16 is cylindrical and there is also provided a portion 21 extending forwardly from partition 18, so that the entire portion of member 16 disposed within body A presents a smooth, cylindrical surface which is interrupted only by opening 2%). Partition 18 has, formed integrally therewith, a forwardly extending boss 22 with a cylindrical tip portion 23, of reduced diameter, and a forwardly directed threaded bore 24.

Formed integrally with member 2, and centered thereon so as to be disposed coaxially with respect to opening 15, is a sleeve 25 including a cylindrical bore 26 which is open at the rear and closed at the front by an end wall 27 provided with a centrally disposed, circular bearing opening. As best seen in FIG. 5, bore 26 of the sleeve embraces the forward portion of member 16, and cndwall 27 extendsacross the front end of member 16, with tip portion 23 of boss 22 extending through the bearing opening in wall 27. Sleeve 25 is retained on member 16 by a screw 28 threaded into bore 24 of boss 22.

Member 2 is provided with wall means 29, FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, defining an elongated channel of which opening 11 is the mouth, such channel increasing in depth toward the center of the nozzle and serving to confine the flow of air entering via opening 11. In this connection, it will be understood that wall means 29 can form an integral part of member 2 and extend from the ends of opening 1 1 to the side areas of sleeve 25. Sleeve 25 may thus be considered as having a lateral opening, indicated at 30, FIG.

5, to which wall means 29 directs the air entering via opening 11, when the sleeve and conduit member 16 are so disposed that openings 34 and 2% are in registry. On the other hand, relative rotation of conduit member 16 and sleeve 25 can bring opening 20 into registry with.

opening 7 of member 1, in which case the cylindrical wall of sleeve closes opening 30.

Member 2 is also provided with an upstanding partition 31, as seen in FIG. 4, spaced inwardly from flange 12. Similarly, member -1 is provided with a dependent partition 32, FIG. 4, spaced inwardly from peripheral lip 6 and disposed in engagement with the top edge of partition 31. The partitions-31, 32, flange 12 and lip 6 combine to define an area within body A to accommodate a defining an elongated rectangle, so as to include two parallel portions 36, 37, FIGS. 7 and 9, of substantial length, the portion 36 being interrupted as shown to accommodate the conduit 16 and certain parts associated therewith. Toward each end of the brush, there is mounted a cross brace, which also serves as a means for connecting the brush to adjusting mechanism still to be described, each such cross brace being indicated at 38. Cross braces 38 are advantageously formed each from a single piece of sheet material and have end portions 39 which embrace the frame 34 in clamping relation. Each end portion 39 includes a portion 4! lying against what can be termed the inner face 41 of brush frame 34, as seen in FIG. 7, and each such portion connects with an ear 42 forming part of the brace and extending at right angles to the long dimension of the brush. Ears 42 are joined by main body portion 43, a portion of the cross brace lying generally parallel to the plane of frame 34 and disposed slightly above the top edge of frame 34. Each ear 42 is provided with an opening 44 facing in the direction of the long dimension of the brush.

Also swiveled on the cylindrical portion of conduit member 16 is an actuator 45 comprising a cylindrical tubular portion 46 extending through opening 15 and disposed behind the open rear end of sleeve 25, as will be clear from FIG. 5. The outer diameter of portion -17 of conduit member 16 is advantageously made larger than for the remainder of member 16, so as to provide a forwardly directed shoulder 47, portion 46 of actuator 45 thus being retained between shoulder 47 and the open end of sleeve 25.

Rearwardly of body A, actuator 45 is provided with a pair of integrally formed foot pedals 48, 49. At the end of portion 46 within body A, actuator 45 is provided with a pair of opposed, laterally projecting cam lugs 54 each having a forwardly opening cam slot 51. Since portion 46 of actuator 45 is capable of rotating with respect to conduit 16, depression of one pedal 48, 49 will cause lugs 50 to swing about the central axis of actuator 45 in one direction, while depression of the other pedal will cause the cam lugs to swing in the reverse direction.

Such movement of actuator 45 is translated into reciprocatory adjustment of brush 33, to retract the same to the inactive position seen in FIGS. 6 and 8 or to project ing transversely and inwardly of the rocker. Each ear 57 is provided with an opening 58 and, as seen in FIGS. 2, 6 and 8, the spring arms 54 extend through, such open ings. Thus, the end portions of arms 54 opposite cross i race 38 extend adjacent the inner faces of side plates 55. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 7, these end portions of arms 54 are bent outwardly, projecting at right angles to the long dimension of body A, as indicated at 59, extend through aligned openings 60 in plates 55, and are journalled in bearing holes 61, FIG. 1, in partitions 31 of member 2. Thus, opposed end portions 59 ofeach pair of spring arms 54, in combination with bearing holes 61, form means mounting the corresponding rocker 52 for pivotal movement about an axis at right angles to the long dimension of body A and also at right angles to the direction of travel of brush 33 between its retracted and projected positions, such axis being parallel to the axis of rotation of the actuator 45 and disposed therebelow.

Cam rollers 53 are each carried by a shaft 62 journalled in aligned bearing openings 63 in side plates 55 of rockers 52. .As best seen in FIG. 3, each rocker 52 is disposed immediately in front of cam lugs 50. Bearing openings 63 are located above openings 60 and the relative positions of rockers 52 and cam lugs 50 is such that the cam rollers 53 extend into cam slots 51.

Each cam slot 51 is slightly wider than the diameter of rollers 53 and is defined, over most of its length, by straight side wall portions 64 extending generally tangentially with respect to cylindrical body 46 of actuator 45. At its end nearest body 46, each slot 51 ,is provided with a notch 65, defining part of a cylindrical surface of larger diameter than rollers 53, and located on the side of the slot further from body 46. At its end further from body 46, each slot 51 is provided with a notch 66 like notch 65 except located on the side of the slot nearest to body 46.

As will be seen from FIGS. 6, 6A and 8, 8A, the arrangement is such that brush 33 is elevated, or retracted, when pedal 48 is fully depressed, and-lowered, or projected into operative position, when pedal 49 is fully depressed.

When pedal 48 is in fully depressed position, both cam rollers 53 are disposed in their appropriate notches 65, these being the notches closest to body 46 of actuator 45. Accordingly, rockers 52 are both held in such position that the portions thereof providing bearing openings 63 are near body 46, the ends of spring arms 54 which are connected to cross braces 38 thus being elevated. On the other hand, when pedal 49 is fully depressed, both cam rollers 53' are disposed in their respective notches 66. Since notches 66 are the ones most distant from body 46 of the actuator, both rockers 52 are now held in such position that the portion thereof providing bearing openings 63 are removed from body 46, and the ends of spring arms 54 connected to cross braces 38 are accordingly lowered. Between these two extreme positions of the actuator, movement of the cam lugs 50 causes rollers 53 first to ride out of the end notch, then to ride along the appropriate straight wall portion, and then to fall into the opposite end .notch.

It will thus be observed that the rockers 52 function as bell crank levers pivoted at 60, one lever arm carrying the cam roller and the spring arms 54 constituting the other lever arm.

The end portions of cam slots 51 provided with notches 65 are aligned across cylindrical body 46 on a diameter thereof and are equally spaced from the central axis of the actuator. The cam slots thus extend tangentially outwardly from like starting points. Similarly, the outer ends of the cam slots, provided with notches 66, are aligned across cylindrical body 46 and lie on a diameter thereof, the cam slots being of equal length. Accordingly, as the actuator turns on member 16, and rollers 53 follow their cam' slots, the rockers 52 can be con sidered as being both connected to the body of the ac-.

tuator through equal, continuously changing moment arms.

Because the tips of arms 54 extend through openings 44 in cross braces 38 and the cross braces are rigidly attached to frame 34, the brush necessarily is shifted in accordance with the movement of rockers 52. When the rockers are so pivoted that the brush is elevated, portions 43 or the cross braces are in contact with the lower surface of member 1. When the rockers are pivoted to lower the brush, the portions of the lower edge of frame 34 disposed between bristle units 35 come into contact with portions 14 of wall 10, the bristle units then of course projecting through openings 13. In this connection, it is to be understood that partitions 31, 32, FIG. 4, are provided with appropriately located gaps (not shown) to accommodate cross-braces 38 as the brush is lowered. The configuration and disposition of the cam slots 51, the spacing between openings 69 and 63, and the length of arms 54, are such that the pivotal movement of rockers "52 resulting from full depression of one of the pedals is greater than that required to move the brush frame over the distance allowed by the space between portions 14 and member 1. Hence, when either pedal 48 or 49 is fully. depressed, the spring arms 54 are flexed and under tension, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 8A, and the arrangement is such that the cam rollers 53 are held firmly in notches 65 or 66, as the case may be, by the spring force of the arms, so that the brush is latched in its adjusted position. In FIGS. 8 and 8A the elongated spring arms 54 are bent crosswise of their lengths in opposite directions from intermediate unbent positions best seen in FIG. 7.

While a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated for clarity, it will be understood that various changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of appended claims. In particular, it is to be understood that the adjustable working member, corresponding to brush 33, can be a plain nozzle, or of other configuration, in which case the fixed working member can employ a brush element.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of means forming a hollow nozzle body; an air outlet member comprising a first portion disposed within said body and having a cylindrical outer surface and a second portion projecting from said body and adapted for connection to a source of suction; a working element disposed within said nozzle body for movement between a retracted position and a projected, operative position; an actuator having a cylindricalbore surrounding the cylindrical outer surface of said first portion of said outlet member, whereby said actuator is mounted for oscillatory movement about said cylindrical surface, said actuator including a first portion disposed within said nozzle body and a second portion projecting therefrom; motion transfer means interconnecting said first portion of said actuator and said working element and operative to convert such oscillatory movement of the actuator to reciprocatory movement of said working element between said retracted and operative positions, said motion transmitting means including members angularly movable about spaced axes parallel to the axis of the first portion of said outlet member and offset therefrom, and a pair of pedals carried by said second portion ofsaid actuator and projecting generally laterally from said air outlet member outside of said nozzle body.

2. In a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of means defining a hollow nozzle body; a supporting member comprising a cylindrical bearing surface disposed within said nozzle body; a working element disposed within said nozzle body for movement between a retracted position and a projected, operative position; an actuator provided with a cylindrical bore embracing said cylindrical bearing surface, said actuator being oscillat-able about the axis of said bearing surface; a rocker disposed within said nozzle body and adjacent said actuator and mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to and spaced from the axis of said bearing surface; a lever arm disposed wholly within said nozzle body and extending laterally with respect to the pivotal axis of said rocker, said lever arm being carried by said rocker for movement therewith and connected to said Working element; a member carried by said actuator and extending adjacent to said rocker laterally with respect to said bearing surface, and cam means operatively interconnecting said member and said rocker to convert oscillatory movement of said actuator to pivotal movement of said rocker, said lever arm moving said working element as said rocker is pivoted.

3. A vacuum cleaning nozzle in accordance vtnth claim 2 and wherein said supporting member constitutes part of an outlet conduit adapted for connection to a source of suction, and said actuator is provided with a pair of laterally projecting pedals disposed outside of said nozzle body and by which said actuator can be oscillated.

4. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 2 and wherein said lever arm is resilient, the nozzle further including spaced stop means carried by said nozzle body and disposed to limit the travel of said working element, and means connected to said actuator whereby the operator can oscillate the same in either direction through a predetermined angle, said rocker, cam means and lever arm being so constructed and arranged that such oscillation of the actuator tends to move the end of said lever arm connected to said working element through a distance greater than is necessary to move said working element through the space afforded by said stop means.

5. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 2 and wherein said cam means comprises a cam surface on said member and a cam follower carried by said rocker.

6. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 5 and wherein said cam surface is presented by a slot provided in said member and extending generally tangentially with respect to said bearing surface, and said oam follower is a rollermounted on said rocker for rotation about an axis spaced from and generally parallel to the pivotal axis of said rocker.

7. In a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of means forming a hollow nozzle body having an elongated air inlet opening, a working element mounted within said nozzle body for movement between a retracted position and anoperative position in which said working clement projects through said air inlet opening, an actuator mounted within said nozzle body for oscillatory movement, a pair of rockers disposed within said nozzle body one on each side of said actuator and mounted for pivotal movement about axes spaced from and generally parallel to the axis of oscillation of said actuator, the lengths of said rockers being relatively small as compared to the length of said air inlet opening, cam means operatively interconnecting said actuator and said rockers and eifective to convert oscillatory movement of said actuator into simultaneous pivotal movement of said rockers, a pair of lever arm means each carried by a different one of said rockers for movement therewith and each connected to said working element, said lever arm means being disposed within said nozzle body and extending generally lengthwise of said air inlet opening, and means disposed outside of said nozzle body and connected to said actuator for oscillating the same.

8. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 7 and wherein said actuator is provided with a pair of laterally projecting opposed lugs disposed each adjacent a different one of said rockers, each of said lugs being provided with a cam slot and each of said rockers carrying a cam follower disposed in operative engagement in one of said slots, said slots extending generally tangentially with respect to a circle centered on the axis of oscillation of said actuator, and like ends of said slots lying substantially on a diameter of such circle.

9. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 8 and wherein said camfollowers are rollers mounted on the corresponding rocker for rotation about an axis parallel to but spaced a substantial distance from the pivotal axis of the rocker.

10. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 7 and wherein said nozzle body is provided with spaced stop means disposed to limit the travel of said working element, and said lever arms each comprise at least one spring member capable of yielding resiliently upon movement of said actuator to an extent greater than will result in travel of said working element over the complete distance between said stop means.

11. In a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of means forming a hollow nozzle body having an air inlet opening; a working element carried by said body and mounted for movement between a retracted position and a projected operative position relative to said air inlet opening; an actuator disposed within said body and mounted for oscillatory movement; a rocker disposed adjacent said actuator and comprising a pair of spaced side members extending in directions which are normal with respect to the axis of oscillation of said actuator; a pair of spring arms extending generally laterally with respect to said axis of oscillation and each having a portion disposed adjacent to and extending along a diiferent one of said side members, the free end of each such portion being bent at an angle to the adjacent side member and extending through an opening therein, said free ends being aligned with each other and extending generally parallel to the axis of oscillation of said actuator, said spring arms being connected to said side members to move therewith and having portions extending beyond the rocker away from said actuator; aligned bearing means carried by said nozzle body and in which said free ends of said spring arms are journaled to support said rocker for pivotal movement, the

opposite ends of said spring arms being connected to said working element to move the same between said retracted and projected operative positions when said rocker is pivoted; and cam means operatively interconnecting said actuator and said rocker to convert oscillatory movement of said actuator into pivotal movement of said rocker.

12. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 11 andwherein said working element carries a member extending generally parallel to the axis of oscillation of said actuator and provided with a pair of spaced openings,

said spring arms extending each through a different one of said spaced openings.

13. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 11 and wherein said cam means comprises a lug fixed to said actuator and extending beside one of said rocker side members, said lug having a cam opening extending generally tangentially with respect to a circle centered on the axis of oscillation of said oscillator, and a cam follower carried by said rocker and operatively engaged in said cam opening.

14. In a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of means defining a hollow nozzle body having an air inlet opening; a working element carried by said nozzle body and disposed for movement between a retracted position and a projected operative position relative to said air inlet opening; an actuator carried by said body and mounted for oscillatory movement, said actuator being provided with a pair of generally opposed laterally projecting lugs, each of said lugs being provided with an elongated cam opening, said cam openings being of like shape and dimensions and each extending generally tangentially with respect to a circle centered on the axis of oscillation of said actuator, each of said cam openings having a first end adjacent such circle and a second end spaced at a greater distance from such circle, said first ends being opposed across such circle along a diameter thereof; a pair of bell crank lever means each mounted on said nozzle body to pivot about an axis generally parallel to theaxis of oscillation of said actuator, each of said bell crank lever means having a shorter lever arm extending adjacent to a different one of said lugs and a longer lever arm extending away from said actuator and connected to said working element, and a pair of cam followers each carried by the shorter lever arm of a different one of said bell crank lever means and each engaged operatively with a difierent one of said cam openings.

15. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 14 and wherein said cam openings are each provided with notches at their ends to accommodate and retain said cam followers when the bell crank lever means reach the end points of their pivotal travel.

16. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 15 and comprising spaced stop means carried by said nozzle body and disposed to limit the travel of said working element, said longer lever arm portions of said bell crank lever means being resilient, and said actuator being so mounted as to be capable of oscillatory movement greater than necessary to move said working element over the distance between said stop means.

17. In a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of means forming a hollow nozzle body presenting fixed Working means for contact with asurface to be cleaned, said body having an air inlet opening disposed in operative relation to said fixed working means; and adjustable working element disposed for movement between a retracted position and a projected, operative position relative to said inlet opening, said adjustable working element comprising a frame; an air outlet member having a first portion, disposed within said body and presenting a cylindrical outer surface, and a second portion adapted for connection to a source of suction; an actuator having a cylindrical bore embracing the cylindrical surface presented by said first portion of said outlet member, whereby said actuator is carried by said outlet member for oscillatory movement about the axis of said cylindrical surface; a pair of bell crank lever means disposed within said body one at each side of said outlet member and adjacent said actuator, said lever means each being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface, each of said lever means including a longer arm connected to said frame of said adjustable working element and a shorter arm extending adjacent to said actuator; and cam means operatively interconnecting said actuator and said shorter arms of said lever means and effective to convert oscillatory movement of said actuator to simultaneous pivotal movement of both of said lever means in directions to adjust said working element between said retracted and operative positions.

18. A vacuum cleaner nozzle in accordance with claim 7 17 and wherein said frame of said workingelement includes spaced portions and the latter are connected by two cross members each disposed on a difierent side of said outlet member and each provided with an opening directed toward said outlet member, the longer arms of said lever means each extending through a different one of said openings.

19. In a multi-purpose elongated vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of two elongated working elements for engaging surfaces to be cleaned, said elements being movable with respect to each other between first relative positions in which one of said elements is ina surface-engaging position and the other of said elements is out of its surface-engaging position and second relative positions in which the other of said elements is in a surface-engaging position and said one element is out of its surface-engaging position, means comprising a plurality of elongated flexible members disposed lengthwise of said working elements for selectively biasing said elements to said first and second relative positions, first means connecting the outer ends of said flexible members to spaced regions of said one element, the other of said elements at a region intermediate its ends including structure which is vertically movable between two positions when the nozzle is positioned for cleaning, second means connecting the inner ends of said flexible members to said structure, said flexible members being bendable crosswise of their lengths to two positions in opposite directions from intermediate positions with vertical movement of said structure to one and the other, respectively, of its two positions, said second connecting means at the inner ends of said flexible members always remaining between said first connecting means lengthwise of said working elements when said flexible members are bent to one and the other of their two positions, and said flexible members in one of their two positions being biased to hold said elements in said first relative positions and in the other of their two positions being biased to hold said elements in said second relative positions.

20. In a multi-purpose elongated vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of two elongated working elements for engaging surfaces to be cleaned, said elements being movable with respect to each other between first relative positions in which one of said elements is in a surface-engaging position and the other of said elements is out of its surface-engaging position and second relative positions in which the other of said elements is in a surface-engaging position and said one element is out of its surface-engaging position, means comprising an elongated flexible member disposed lengthwise of said working elements for selectively biasing said elements to said first and second relative positions, first means connecting one end of said flexible member to said one element, the other of said elements at a region intermediate its ends including structure which is vertically movable between two positions when the nozzle is positioned for cleaning, second means connecting the opposite end of said flexible member to said structure, said flexible member being bendable crosswise of its length to two positions in opposite directions from an intermediate position with vertical movement of said structure to one and the other, respectively, of its two positions, said first connecting means always remaining at the same side of said second connecting means lengthwise of said working elements when said .flexible member is bent to one and the other of its two positions, and said flexible member in one of its two positions being biased to hold said elements in said first relative positions and in the other of its two positions being biaised to hold said elements in said second relative positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,209,719 Kirby Dec. 26, 1916 1,344,389 Fickes June 22, 1920 1,413,545 Throop Apr. 18., 1922 1,976,998 Kirby Oct. 16, 1934 2,348,861 Smellie May 16, 1944 2,371,767 Lofgren Mar. 20, 1945 2,620,506 Weiland Dec. 9, 1952 2,682,682 Lewyt et a1 July 6, 1954 2,966,693 Anderson Jan. 3, 196-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 217,208 Switzerland Ian. 16, 1942 729,508 Great Britain May 4, 1955 

